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Creaking is making me crazy!

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Creaking is making me crazy!

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Old 12-03-09 | 09:28 PM
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the barbarian
 
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From: Evanston, IL

Bikes: Independent Fabrications Crown Jewel, Surly Steamroller(FG), Abici Podium (road)

Creaking is making me crazy!

I am riding fixed on a surly steamroller, when I change direction of force which i am pedaling (as in slowing down, then speeding up), i get a annoying creaking, seemingly from my left side crank. I took everything apart tonight and re greased and tightened my bb cups ( i have an octalink 6600 (ultegra) bb and a dura ace crank), and re-torqued my crank bolts, and the creaking cointinues!

I dont want to buy another BB as this one probably has only several hundred miles on it (maybe 2 years old). I cant think of anything else though, I tightened down my chainring bolts too!

maybe a worn chain? I have a sram superlight something (kinda fancy and about 1 year old).

any other ideas?
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Old 12-03-09 | 09:44 PM
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My bike was creaking once, so I lowered the chain tension and lubed the chain up a lot. Then there was no more creaking.
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Old 12-03-09 | 10:11 PM
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check your seat
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Old 12-03-09 | 11:11 PM
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Bikes: surly steamroller w/coaster brake, electra single speed cruiser, specialized rockhopper commuter, no-name single speed folder, 700c ultimate wheel, 24" unicycle, specialized bmx lsd, single seat single speed huffy tandem, pink upsidedown parade bike

Check your left side pedal as well.
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Old 12-03-09 | 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by diaper eater
check your seat

Yup. I agree here. Had the same issue with my Steamroller. I kept thinking it was the pedals or BB because the sounds was coming from directly beneath me. I'd removed and greased the pedals. No dice. Lubed the post put it back and it the noise was gone!
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Old 12-04-09 | 02:27 AM
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check your ears too. That is most often the place where you hear creaking.
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Old 12-04-09 | 03:10 AM
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Assuming you made sure to grease the interface between the bottom bracket and the crank arm as well as the pedal threads, check the rear hubs for anything that may be loose/dry.
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Old 12-04-09 | 06:14 AM
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the barbarian
 
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From: Evanston, IL

Bikes: Independent Fabrications Crown Jewel, Surly Steamroller(FG), Abici Podium (road)

seatpost?ok, I will try that, i will grease the hell out of everything before my commute this morning, ill let you guys know what happens. Thanks for the advise!
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Old 12-04-09 | 07:38 AM
  #9  
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"this one probably has only several hundred miles on it (maybe 2 years old)."

Only rode several hundred miles in 2 years? Ride more, worry less!
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Old 12-04-09 | 07:52 AM
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kubrick has a point for once...

several hundred miles should be your monthly mileage, not bi-annualar!
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Old 12-04-09 | 09:51 AM
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:)
 
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Originally Posted by ADSR
Assuming you made sure to grease the interface between the bottom bracket and the crank arm.
Only do this if the manufacture recommends it.
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Old 12-04-09 | 10:44 AM
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Creaks can be deceiving. Check saddle, seatpost, stem-handlebar interface, pedal and any other area where two or more parts connect. You can eliminate some of these possibilities while riding. For example, does the creak continue when pedaling off the saddle because that would eliminate your saddle and post from being the problem.
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Old 12-04-09 | 12:52 PM
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Try swapping-out your rear wheel, if possible. After tightening the cranks, seat and seat post, and swapping out the chain, cog and chainring on my bike, I eventually traced the source of a persistent creaking to worn-out cartridge bearings on my rear hub.
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Old 12-04-09 | 03:39 PM
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yesterday you said tom.
 
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Muscle, I see you went with the steamroller after your Pista cracked. How is it in comparison? aside from the creaking of course.
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Old 12-05-09 | 12:28 AM
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i dont think anyone else mentioned yet to check your chain ring bolts. I just solved my creaks there. I went all the way down to my BB looking for it.
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